After four lopsided and heartbreaking losses, National University Nazareth School finally cracked the code in solving defending champion University of Santo Tomas.
The Lady Bullpups stormed out of the gates by scoring the first 16 points of the game and later weathered anxious moments in the third period to secure a breakthrough 74-62 victory over the Junior Growling Tigresses, to sweep the first round of the UAAP Season 88 Girls’ Basketball Tournament on Sunday afternoon at the Adamson Gym in Manila.
Prior to the contest, NUNS — which joined the division in Season 87 — had absorbed four straight losses to UST in UAAP girls’ basketball, with an average losing margin of 16.5 points per game.
More importantly, the triumph kept the Lady Bullpups on top of the four-team field with a pristine 3-0 win-loss record. It also snapped UST’s (2-1) 10-game winning streak dating back to its perfect championship run in Season 87.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“Yung dinedevelop ko kasi sa mga bata, yung pagiging mature nila — ’yon yung kailangan namin. Kailangan kung ano yung mga lapses namin last year, ’yon yung mga kailangan namin tuunan ng pansin para makuha namin ito. At nakuha nga,” NUNS head coach Ai Lebornio said.
“Yung lahat ng experience namin from Brunei to Manila Meet to mga tune-up games namin, binalik ko sila doon after ng third quarter ’eh. Nakuha namin yung kumpyansa namin doon dahil walang imposible hangga’t may oras,” she added.
Aubrey Lapasaran and Zaydhen Rosano set the tone early as NUNS raced to a 16-0 lead and built a comfortable 47-30 advantage at halftime.
The Lady Bullpups hit a rough patch in the third quarter, however. They allowed the Junior Golden Tigresses to pour in 26 points while being limited to just eight on 2-of-12 shooting, entering the fourth quarter trailing by one, 66-65.
UST appeared poised to extend its momentum by scoring the first four points of the payoff period, but NUNS refused to let a historic breakthrough slip away.
The Lady Bullpups responded with a decisive 13-point run — highlighted by back-to-back Rosano layups and a KJ Badajos floater — to reclaim control and build a 68-60 cushion with 4:46 remaining.
From there, UST struggled to find answers against NUNS’ late surge. The Lady Bullpups tacked on six more points — capped by two consecutive Bri Katigbak layups — to seal the comeback victory and the final scoreline with 29.9 seconds left.
Lapasaran led the charge for the Lady Bullpups with 17 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Rosano delivered a stellar all-around performance of 14 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, and five steals.
Badajos added 11 points, five rebounds, and three assists, while Ruiza Olmos and Katigbak contributed eight and seven points, respectively.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
On the other side, Pia Petalcorin was the lone double-digit scorer for the Junior Growling Tigresses. She finished with 15 points on 5-of-12 shooting to go along with two rebounds and one steal.
Season 88 Elite Team member Riri Perez was held to eight points on 1-of-14 shooting with four turnovers, while Indonesian center Koukou Talla tallied eight points, 11 rebounds, one steal, and one block.
The Scores:
NUNS (74) – Lapasaran 17, Rosano 14, Badajos 11, Olmos 8, Katigbak 7, Singson 6, Mallari 4, Agad 4, Sales 2, Onate 1, Luzana 0.
UST (62) – Petalcorin 15, Pinuela 8, Perez 8, Talla 8, Oczon 6, Anacan 6, Labay 4, Insoy 4, Abrantes 3, Townes 0, Hew 0.
Quarterscores: 24-9, 47-30, 55-56, 74-62.
